Duke Institute for Brain Sciences

Synapses are fundamental units of neuronal connectivity in the brain. It is at these specialized cell junctions that neurons communicate with one another. Many neuroscientists now look to the synapse for principles of learning and memory, for processes underlying behavior, and for pathogenic mechanisms of various neurological diseases. Our long-term goal is to understand the mechanisms regulating the development and function of synapses and to probe the roles of synaptic and circuitry dysfunction in certain abnormal behaviors and their relevance to neuropsychiatric disorders. There are currently three major aspects of research in the lab:

1. Understanding the molecular mechanisms regulating the assembly and function of the postsynaptic complex.

2. Using genetic approaches in mice to dissect the molecular and cellular basis of behavior. We are particularly interested in how changes in synaptic and circuitry function may lead to abnormal behaviors and their implications in neuropsychiatric disorder.

3. Developing cutting edge genetic tools for probing synaptic and circuitry function and dysfunction in mice. These include transgenic mice that express GFP in single neurons in the brain for long-term live imaging; single-neuron labeling with inducible cre-mediated knockout (SLICK) in transgenic mice for combined genetic manipulation and imaging in single neurons in the brain; and otpogenetic tools for light-induced activation and inhibition of neural activity in living mice.

Ph.D., State University of New York at Buffalo, 1995

M.S., Shanghai Second Medical University, 1985

B.M., Zhejiang Medical University, 1982

Young, P., Qiu, L., Wang, D., Gross, J., Zhao, S., and Feng, G. (2008). Single-neuron labeling with inducible cre-mediated knockout in transgenic mice. Nature Neurosci. 11:721-8.

Welch, JM., Lu, J., Rodriguiz, RM., Trotta, NC., Peca, J., Ding, J-D., Feliciano, C., Chen, M., Adams, JP., Luo, J., Dudek, SM., Weinberg, RJ., Calakos, N., Wetsel, WC., and Feng, G. (2007) Cortico-striatal synaptic defects and OCD-like behaviors in SAPAP3 mutant mice. Nature 448:894-900.

Arenkiel, B.A., Peca, J., Davison, I.G., Feliciano, C., Deisseroth, K., Augustine, G.J., Ehlers, M.D., and Feng, G. (2007) Light-Induced Activation of Neural Circuitry in Transgenic Mice Expressing Channelrhodopsin-2. Neuron 54:205-218.